Month: September 2016

Ali Mesiwala, MD, joined the Chaparral Medical Group, Inc., as a neurosurgeon and its medical director in 2005. Beyond his professional activities, Ali Mesiwala, MD, gives back to the local community as a medical director with the Snoop Youth Football League.

The helmet is the single most important piece of equipment a young football player owns. In order to reap the full protective benefits of a helmet, children and their parents must find a helmet that fits properly. The fitting process begins by making a general inspection of a helmet to ensure that both the exterior and interior of the helmet are clean and in good working order. Gathering pertinent information about the athlete is equally important, if not more so. Children who have experienced concussions or broken noses in the past should receive added attention, as should any athlete who has previously struggled with helmet fits.

Once general information has been processed, parents and coaches can begin taking helmet and athlete measurements. Measurements should begin at the side of the head, roughly one inch above a child’s brow. Helmet sizes range from medium to extra-large, accommodating cranial circumferences between 20 and 25.5 inches. Parents may need to contact specialty manufacturers if they cannot find an adequate match.

After finding a helmet with compatible measurements, parents and coaches must review the helmet as the player wears it during physical activities. To check the helmet’s fit on a child, adults can pull the helmet directly down to ensure evenly distributed pressure. The helmet should also be worked from side to side and rolled from the back of the head to the front. In both cases, the helmet should grip the player’s head firmly without sliding in any direction.

Ali Mesiwala, MD, oversees patient care and leads research projects as a neurosurgeon and the medical director of the Chaparral Medical Group, Inc., in Pomona, California. Away from work, Ali Mesiwala, MD, supports local philanthropic organizations such as the Snoop Youth Football League and serves as its medical director.

Children and families interested in joining the Snoop Youth Football League must first complete a number of health and conduct forms, including a player season contract. The contract covers a number of topics, ranging from basic information, such as the child’s birth date and school name, to more league-specific subjects like Snoop Youth Football rules and regulations. The contract also includes an insurance disclosure, an emergency medical release section, and a parent’s acknowledgment of participation.

There are several additional forms players and their families must review and sign. The league’s physical form gathers traditional physical statistics for each child, such as height and weight, as well as more advanced information like blood pressure and subjects such as posture and range of motion. There are also areas where parents can describe any relevant physical ailments or abnormalities.

In addition, the Snoop Youth Football League maintains a contract and a parent and player code of conduct form for cheerleaders. To review each of these forms or to learn more about the league, visit www.snoopyfl.net.